MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded No. 3 pick O.J. Mayo to the Memphis Grizzlies for Kevin Love in an eight-player, late-night blockbuster long after the NBA draft concluded.

A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed it to The Associated Press, speaking on the condition on anonymity because the trade had yet to be officially announced.

The Timberwolves also received shooter Mike Miller and frontcourt retreads Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins from Memphis in exchange for the draft rights to Mayo, forward Antoine Walker and guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.

The deal allows the Timberwolves to dump Walker, who was unhappy riding the bench on a young team, and Jaric’s contract, which has three years and more than $21 million remaining.

Miller also fills a huge hole on the team as a perimeter shooter and gives them Love, a player who can play down low next to Al Jefferson on a formidable young front line.

The Grizzlies, in turn, get a dynamic guard in Mayo who was widely rated the third-best player in the draft behind Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who went first and second, respectively.

Timberwolves fans will likely be reminded of another lottery-swapping move two years ago, when Minnesota selected Brandon Roy, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye and cash.

Roy went on to become rookie of the year in 2006-07 and an All-Star last season, while Foye has struggled with injuries while showing promise as a floor leader and playmaking perimeter threat.

With Foye and Rashad McCants—two smallish scoring guards—already on the roster, the Wolves started their evening by drafting the 6-foot-5 Mayo out of USC with the third pick.

Memphis took Love, a fundamentally sound 6-foot-10 power forward from UCLA, with the fifth overall pick.

A swap of horrible contracts and picks. Basically Mike Miller and Kevin Love for OJ Mayo.

Miniwheats

06-27-2008 02:49 AM

wow thats sudden i think its a much better deal for minny because know they have a quite strong starting five. memphis on the other hand just seems to be going backwards. they have two great young pointgaurds and about nothing else.

ya i'd put gomes as a sixth man witch would move miller to small and mc cants to at the four

The MVP of West Hollywood

06-27-2008 04:01 AM

I don't get this at all

Doesn't taking on Walker and Jaric's contracts (8 and 6 mil/year for 4 years each, respectively) make the Gasol money dump COMPLETLEY useless. It just feels so inconsistent with what they were doing before. Did the Memphis owners grow a heart like The Grinch? On the other hand though, I actually like Memphis' core now. Conley, Mayo, and Gay is an extremely nice, young trio to build around, Darko was showing signs of ups last year (he's still like 22), and Marc Gasol has potential like his brother.

Meanwhile in Minnesota, you have two undersized PFs who can't defend a chair and a veteran SG who'll be old by the time you're actually ready to contend. Ladies and gentlemen, give a great round of applause for Kevin McHale! The one and only!

I think Love is a bust by the way. This will go down as one of the worst trades McHale has ever done. Mayo's a total fucking stud. Love won't fit in the NBA.

Joshz

06-27-2008 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MVP of West Hollywood
(Post 39263)

Mayo's a total fucking stud. Love won't fit in the NBA.

I think Loves best is 10-10, with porous D...The Jefferson - Love frontcourt doesn't really strike me as imposing, both are undersized...neither are AMAZING athletes. Minny still is desperate for a PG...and Millers contract is large. They need to package Foye and Mccants or Foye and Gomes for a PG.

Memphis's has a much higher ceiling...without a PG, Minny is still screwed, Mayo - Jefferson tandem could have been major building blocks...only thing i like is dumping jaric/walker contracts...Memphis probably comes out with more, but they have no interrior presence how many teams are effective without a dominant inside player? :stars:

The MVP of West Hollywood

06-27-2008 04:44 AM

I think this trade is more insultingly bad than the Gasol one

At least in that situation, it was clear the owners were on his back to clear cap space at any cost, and Kwame was the biggest expiring. I get the feeling he was pushed into it.

This is just massive stupidity. I mean, Jefferson, Love, Miller... you have to be retarded to try that trio. McHale = Worst GM in the history of pro sports.

Kuzzy

06-27-2008 04:48 AM

Memphis got the better deal because they got a player who I thinks going to be a superstar in this league.
Timberwolves wont really go any further with Miller(good season on crap team) and Love(wont be close to superstardom).
It would have been smarter to keep Mayo, to play alongside with big Al, and go for another crap season with a high d-pick, they were just 1 player away from there own big 3. The only good thing they got out of this trade is moving out trash like marco and antoine.

Apollo

06-27-2008 08:24 AM

Antoine Walker gets passed around like a cheap prostitute.

Acie

06-27-2008 10:05 AM

What?

No love for Love?

You guys are just jealous your uncle isn't in the Beach Boys.

Dr. J. Naismith

06-27-2008 10:15 AM

So much for acquiring Miller now, Thriller. :(

Gurk

06-27-2008 02:07 PM

Minnisota got the best of this deal by giving up Jaric and Walker which is dumping two bad contracts away

Kuzzy

06-27-2008 05:12 PM

but losing a future superstar in Mayo and taking on Love who I think is overrated

Dr. J. Naismith

06-27-2008 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuzzy
(Post 39497)

but losing a future superstar in Mayo and taking on Love who I think is overrated

I think your getting a little ahead of yourself there Kuzzy. The jury's still out on Mayo on whether or not his game can or will translate on the professional level. Give it a couple seasons before you label him a "future superstar". He could also underacheive big time and be a huge disappointment too. ;)

Kuzzy

06-27-2008 05:25 PM

lol well all I can promise is that he will have a much greater impact to his team then Love will to the Timberwolves and yes id put money on mayo becoming a superstar :)